Attorney Karen Comery, on behalf of the six, argues that Mr. Helfrich is ineligible for office because of felonies he pleaded guilty to in 1991 as a young man in his 20s.

Mr. Helfrich has spent a lifetime making up for those youthful errors in judgment – which were essentially victimless crimes.

The crux of the issue turns on whether his drug-related crimes are considered “infamous” infractions that, according to the state Constitution, disqualify a person from elected office.

A county court judge ruled that was not the case when Mayor Kim Bracey challenged his ability to be a member of the city council. The plaintiffs in this case argue that ruling was never tested at the appellate level and that courts elsewhere in the state have consistently ruled that all felonies are “infamous.”

Mayor-elect Michael Helfrich's political opponents are again raising the infamous crime argument as why he should not be allowed to serve as mayor.

Jason Plotkin, Rick Lee, York Daily Record

It’s time for state lawmakers to revisit this issue and clarify what specific crimes bar a person from public office.

Meanwhile, we have this 11th-hour stink bomb set off before Mr. Helfrich’s inauguration.

It’s unfortunate.

And it might have been unnecessary if Mayor Bracey had publicly and forcefully urged her supporters not to challenge the results of the election.

Several weeks ago, we urged her to do just that. It’s possible that she did – though to our knowledge it wasn’t public.

It’s not clear that she has any personal connection to this legal challenge. And she couldn’t prevent such a challenge if determined city residents wanted to file one.

But a strongly worded public statement supporting the succession of power might have gone a long way to prevent this challenge.

Instead, on election night she coyly suggested that a challenge to Mr. Helfrich could be coming – even if she were not involved with it.

Not speaking out on this matter somewhat tarnishes a positive legacy by Ms. Bracey. She has done much to improve the city, which is on an upward trajectory.

Here was a chance to promote unity, and Mayor Bracey doesn’t seem to have taken that opportunity.

It’s not too late to do the right thing. She could urge the six to withdraw their challenge. She could also make it clear she would not accept an appointment to mayor by the city council if the courts remove Mr. Helfrich from office.

Also: In a previous editorial, we urged Gov. Tom Wolf to pardon Mr. Helfrich so that the will of the people could stand.

That might not have been possible in an expeditious manner – there’s a process. But he too could have at least spoken out and said he, a Bracey supporter, respected the election results and that he welcomes Mr. Helfrich to the helm of York.

Rather than allow this issue to fester and linger, Gov. Wolf should now make it clear he will push for and sign a pardon from Mr. Helfrich so this can be put behind us and York can continue moving toward a prosperous future.